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1935 - 2018 VOLUME 49 NUMBER 12 DISTRICT 2 - CHAPTER WEBSITE: WWW.NRHS1.ORG DECEMBER 2018 Merry Christmas From the Lancaster Chapter, Inc., N.R.H.S.
1935 - 2018
VOLUME 49 NUMBER 12 DISTRICT 2 - CHAPTER WEBSITE: WWW.NRHS1.ORG DECEMBER 2018
Merry Christmas From the
Lancaster Chapter, Inc., N.R.H.S.
Lancaster Dispatcher December 2018Page 2
THE POWER DIRECTOR
“NEWS FROM THE RAILROAD WIRES”
AMTRAK SETS REVENUE AND EARNINGSRECORDS; DELIVERS BEST OPERATINGPERFORMANCE IN COMPANY HISTORY
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2018, AmtrakMEDIACENTER – Continuing financialimprovements in recent years, Amtrak again
posted record revenue and earnings for its fiscal year, which ended Sept.30, 2018. Strong management and improved product delivery and customerservice led the company to its best operating performance in companyhistory, despite challenges during the year. Preliminary results for FiscalYear 2018 are:
Operating Earnings: ($168.0 million) – best Amtrak operating performanceto date, improved 13.3 percent over FY 2017 total of $193.7 million
Ridership: 31.7 million customer trips –steady year-over-year, with growthoffset by reductions due to service disruptions
Total Revenue1: $3.38billion – increased 2.2 percent over FY 2017
Capital Investment: $1.46 billion – the highest level of capital investment inrecent Amtrak history
Northeast Regional and State Supported lines saw growth in ridership,while Long Distance service was down 3.9 percent due to the hundreds oftrains truncated or canceled due to weather events, infrastructure outages,planned repairs, and poor on-time performance across much of the hostrailroad network used by Amtrak trains.
In response to two significant derailments early in FY 2018, Amtrak beganimplementation of a Safety Management System (SMS), a proven safetyprogram that anticipates and mitigates risk, and continued its aggressiveefforts to implement Positive Train Control (PTC).
Also notable this fiscal year, Amtrak invested more than $1.46 billion oncapital assets, including state-of-good-repair work on the NortheastCorridor (NEC), equipment refreshes, station upgrades, technologyimprovements and other customer-friendly benefits that support thelong-term future and growth of intercity passenger rail.
“We made significant advancements to improve safety and the customerexperience, posting our best operating performance in company history,”said Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia. “We remain on track to cover totaloperating costs from ticket and other revenues in the next few years, whichwill allow us to focus funding on business improvements and expansion.”
“With refreshed train interiors, improved amenities and renewed stationsand infrastructure, our customers are noticing a difference,” said AmtrakPresident & CEO Richard Anderson. “We are continuing to make passengerrail the preferred mode of travel for business and leisure.”
Other Amtrak highlights in FY 2018 include:
Began implementation of an SMS, a proactive, data-driven safety programused in many complex industries. We are the first major U.S. railroad todeploy SMS and have already seen improvements in a broad range of trainsafety metrics.
Installed operational PTC on more than 13,000 miles of the Amtrak network.When 2019 arrives, we expect to have nearly all of our track, all of ourtraining, and locomotive PTC work complete. Amtrak plans to be operatingPTC across nearly all tracks we control and across a significant portion ofthe host railroad network.
Invested in customer-facing enhancements, including a refresh of theAmfleet I and Acela interiors, as well as improved Wi-Fi service.
Manufacturing began for the new Acela Express fleet, which will increase
capacity and redefine the customer experience on Amtrak’s premium NECservice.
Started an en route train cleaning program on the NEC, which has receivedpositive feedback from customers who noticed the cleaner onboardexperience.
Issued an RFP for new or rebuilt locomotives to supplement and replace ouraging National Network diesel locomotive fleet, and an RFI for passengervehicles to replace our Amfleet I equipment used on Northeast Regionaltrains and several State Supported services.
Modernized and improved the passenger areas of stations, including newrestrooms in New York, and added lactation suites at several major stations.
Invested more than $51 million on ADA-related design and constructionimprovement projects at more than 100 locations nationwide.
In coordination with our Gateway Program partners, advanced criticalelements of the Hudson Tunnel Project including preliminary engineeringand environmental review, began early construction on Portal North Bridgeand are working with the Federal Transit Administration on financial plansto begin major construction on both projects.
Improved the reliability and performance of our infrastructure by completingour FY 2018 New York Penn Station renewal work on time and budget andcompleting an overhaul of the Spuyten Duyvil Bridge.
Made investments to double our infrastructure maintenance capacity bycommitting $370 million on new equipment for improving the NEC.
Together with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation,launched new service to Roanoke, serving more than 54,000 customers inthe first year.
In partnership with North Carolina, added a third frequency to the dailyPiedmont service between Raleigh and Charlotte, serving more than 13,000customers.
With our state partners at the Connecticut Department of Transportation,launched additional Amtrak service on the Springfield Line and assisted thestate in their implementation of CTrail Hartford Line Service, which carrieda combined total of more than 21,000 customers over its opening weekendand more than 10,000 customers during the first full week of operation.
Added Thruway bus service for customers to connect to the Empire Service,Lake Shore Limited, and Maple Leaf trains at Amtrak stations in Rochester,Syracuse and Utica, New York, and at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania forconnections to State College, Lewisburg and Williamsport, Pennsylvania,as well as several other locations.
Offered real-time and frequent information via social media @AmtrakAlertsand @AmtrakNECAlerts.
Implemented new contemporary food service on the Capitol Limited andLake Shore Limited and introduced new menus on the Northeast Regional.
Reached new seven-year labor contracts with all unions providingreasonable wage increases for employees and medical plan cost control.
Streamlined the Amtrak management staff, creating service line leaders forstrategic focus and redirecting staff to business-critical positions.
REPORT FINDS FLAWS IN AMTRAK BACKGROUND CHECKS FOREMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2018, Trains News Wire - Amtrak has addressedsome flaws in conducting background checks as part of its hiring process,but some issues remain, according to a report by Amtrak Office of InspectorGeneral.
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Most notably, according to the report issued Nov. 1, reviews of applicants’education and employment histories are insufficient, and the company doesnot ensure that contractors conduct background checks.
Amtrak outsources its checks on applicants to Accurate Background, Inc.The report notes that Accurate referred more than half of the 1,882background checks it conducted back to the company to resolve becauseof limitations in its contract or weaknesses in Amtrak’s oversight ofAccurate. “As a result,” the report states, “the company continues to spendunnecessary resources on its background checks process.”
Amtrak is not complying with its policy on contractors’ background checks— which require contractors to certify in writing that they have completedsuch checks, and that Amtrak conduct independent audits to verify that thechecks have been conducted — in part because “it has not identified whichdepartments are responsible for completing each of these steps,” accordingto the report.
The report did note improvements since it last reviewed hiring policies in2012, namely that reviews of applicants’ criminal histories have beenimproved, and that background checks are usually completed beforeapplicants begin work. In fiscal 2017, only seven of 1,293 new employeeswere at work before the background checks were complete.
AMTRAK OIG SAYS RAILROAD CAN CUT UP TO $6.4M IN COSTS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2018, Rail Group News - Amtrak’s Office ofInspector General (OIG) audit, released Nov. 9, states that the passengerrailroad service is capable of reducing the cost of service and inspectionactivities by adjusting workloads and staffing and by managing overtime.
Depending on the extent of the recommended changes that areimplemented, the report said Amtrak could put an estimated $2.3 million to$6.4 million to better use.
Amtrak has a total of 62 locations nationwide where it services and inspectstrains, which include 12 larger preventative maintenance facilities and 50smaller outlying sites.
While developing the report, auditors focused on operations at Amtrak’s 50smaller outlying service and inspection sites, evaluating opportunities tocut costs.
Federal Railroad Administration-required safety inspections are conductedat these sites to include cab signal tests, brake tests and interior andexterior inspections. Additionally, Amtrak employees or contractors at thesites clean restrooms and café cars, wash windows, vacuum the cars, pumpwaste from toilets and replenish cars with potable water.
Various equipment repairs are also carried out at the sites. Of the 50 sites,16 are staffed by Amtrak employees and the remaining 34 sites are staffedby contractors.
When considering cost reduction opportunities, the OIG found some workconducted at four service and inspection sites in Michigan and Missouricould be done at the service and inspection areas within Chicago’spreventative maintenance facility.
OIG auditors also assessed route schedules for trains that originated orterminated in Chicago and established that several trains were in Chicagoevery 24 hours. Preventative maintenance facility employees in Chicago arealready responsible for cleaning the trains and have the capacity to conductthe additional FRA-mandated safety inspections, according to an Amtrakofficial cited in the report.
The four Michigan and Missouri sites may still require the capacity to cleantrains, however, a minimized workload would enable staffing adjustmentsfor service and inspections, the report states.
The OIG identified potential savings opportunities at 11 other preventativemaintenance facilities, as well. Depending on the amount of additionalinspection work that could be performed at the service and inspection areasof the preventative maintenance facilities, the OIG estimated that Amtrakcould better use $1.4 million to $3.9 million.
When reviewing four other service and inspection sites staffed by Amtrakemployees, the OIG said employees worked standard eight-hour shifts eventhough the sites did not have enough service and inspection work to fill afull shift. For example, Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer train is scheduled to be atthe Fort Worth, Texas, service and inspection site for five hours per day,but, due to track constraints, service and inspection employees can onlywork on the train for three hours. However, the employees involved work afull eight-hour shift.
While a portion of the eight-hour shifts are used by employees to completeother tasks like gathering tools and supplies, they do not require asignificant amount of time to complete, according to the report.
Company officials cited in the report said staffing levels were based on ahistorical preference to ensure sites had a full complement of staff toquickly mitigate incidents that might arise at a site or along a train’s route.However, the OIG said for Amtrak it found the practice results ininefficiencies.
Across all 16 service and inspection sites, including the four sites at whichthe OIG found a lack of enough service and inspection work to fill aneight-hour shift, employees received overtime payments in addition to theirbase wage in the 2017 fiscal year.
Overtime payments above base wages ranged from 11 percent to 38 percentper employee at the sites. In Kansas City, Mo., employees received anaverage of more than $27,000 in overtime payments per individual. The OIGalso established that managers at some sites did not know why or howmuch overtime their employees were earning.
The situation did not enable managers to manage employee overtime orensure the overtime was necessary. By better managing overtime andreducing it when possible, the report states that Amtrak could betterallocate an estimated $900,000 to $2.4 million for better use.
In response to its findings, the OIG recommends that Amtrak consider theextent to which it can operate more efficiently at its service and inspectionsites, including actions such as identifying opportunities to shift work fromthese sites to the service and inspection areas of preventative maintenancefacilities, reducing unnecessary full-time positions at sites without afull-time workload and better managing the amount of overtime that staffincurs at service and inspection sites.
Amtrak officials agreed to implement all of the OIG recommendations, astatement said.
BRIGHTLINE IS SOLE BIDDER FORORLANDO-TAMPA SERVICE
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 8, 2018, Trains NewsWire - Florida transportation officials announced Wednesday that Brightlinewas the only bidder to submit a formal proposal to construct tracks andoperate intercity passenger trains between Orlando International anddowntown Tampa, mostly in the median of Interstate 4.
Submissions in response to a June request for proposals to develop theroute were due Nov. 1, and some news reports suggested that there mightbe as many as four bidders. Brightline triggered the process in March withan unsolicited proposal to develop the right-of-way.
A state selection committee is scheduled to meet Nov. 28 to evaluate theproposal.
The fact that Brightline’s station at the Orlando Airport has already beenconstructed even though service from Miami could be at least three yearsaway certainly gave the company a built-in competitive advantage over anycompetitors seeking to bid on the Orlando-Tampa route.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Times reports that Tampa voters overwhelminglyapproved two new Hillsborough County taxes for schools and transitTuesday by a two-to-one margin. Similar legislation had been defeated in2010, but now has broad-based approval. The money could give asignificant boost to transit connections or highway improvements the citymay provide in connection with rail expansion to Tampa.
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VIRGIN TRAINS-BRIGHTLINEPARTNERSHIP LEADS TO PUBLIC
OFFERING
MIAMI, Nov. 18, 2018, Trains News Wire -Florida’s Brightline announced Friday that it would jettison years ofbranding to become Virgin Trains USA, but that turned out not to be thecompany’s only big news: Later Friday, it filed a prospectus for an initialpublic offering (IPO) with the Security and Exchange Commission.
The filing reveals details of the economics of current operations; previouslyopaque strategies the newly-named Fortress Investment Group subsidiaryhopes to employ in financing, constructing, and operating its expansion toOrlando and Tampa, Fla.; as well as building out the Las Vegas, Nev., toVictorville, Calif., XpressWest franchise.
Some highlights from the filing:
— With service extended from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Miami in mid-Mayand frequencies increased in mid-August, Brightline ticket revenue jumped$1.5 million in the second quarter to $2.9 million in the third quarter, on anine-month operating loss of $87 million.
— Company debt stands at $625 million.
— The Siemens trainsets for the existing West Palm Beach-Miami servicecost $260 million, and the additional rolling stock for the Orlando extensionis pegged at a similar amount.
— It appears the Orlando and Tampa build-outs will be concurrent, becausethe company expects ridership and revenues to “stabilize” by early 2024after a two-year “ramp-up.”
— The Tampa expansion is expected to cost $1.7 billion; LasVegas-Victorville is tabbed at $3.6 billion.
— Ridership projections were scaled back about 8 percent from thoseoriginally estimated in the Nevada’s “High Desert Corridor Study” becausethe route will now be built to a lower-speed, 125-mph standard.
— Expected ticket prices are $100 between Miami and Orlando, and $35Orlando to Tampa.
— Virgin Trains USA says it will seek to operate its brand in other corridors,such as Dallas-Houston, even though that market already has anestablished high-speed rail entrant.
The filing, which is being underwritten by J.P. Morgan Chase and othermajor investment houses, provides an underlying reason for attempting toutilize Virgin’s worldwide name recognition to tempt investors inaugmenting funds that Fortress’ deep pockets and private activity bondfinancing could not solely provide. If approved, it will be listed under thestock symbol VTUS on the NASDAQ stock exchange
CSX SANTA TRAIN TO TRAVEL THROUGHAPPALACHIA
Nov. 5, 2018, Progressive Railroading - CSXwill operate its 76th annual Santa Train onNov. 17, as part of the Class I's efforts todeliver toys, food, winter clothing and othergifts to residents in need along the 110-mile
route.
The train will travel through the Appalachia region and stop in 14 locationsin Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. More than 15 tons of toys and otheritems will be delivered to families, CSX officials said in a press release.
This year's train also will feature entertainment by country music duoMaddie & Tae, according to CSX.
In addition to CSX, Santa Train's sponsors include Food City, KingsportChamber of Commerce, Appalachian Power and Soles 4 Souls.
CSX TRANSPORTATION FINDS A BUYER FOR FLORIDA PANHANDLEROUTE
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2018, Trains News Wire (Edited) - Shortline holding
company RailUSA will acquire nearly 375 miles of CSX Transportation mainline across the Florida Panhandle.
Last week RailUSA notified rail labor on the affected routes that it would beacquiring the lines from CSX, according to a Nov. 6 filing with the SurfaceTransportation Board.
The Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad will acquire 373 miles of CSX routes,including the Tallahassee Subdivision between Baldwin andChattahoochee, Fla., the P&A Subdivision between Chattahoochee andPensacola, Fla., and portions of the Bainbridge Subdivision betweenTallahassee and Attapulgus, Ga.
No startup date was given, but people familiar with the matter say therailroad was likely to begin operations in mid-January.
Florida Gulf & Atlantic will hire 37 people in Tallahassee to run the railroad.
Rail labor was notified that the railroad will seek a superintendent, twotrainmasters, nine conductors, nine engineers, one track inspector, oneroadmaster, two brakemen, five maintenance-of-way crew members, onesales and marketing staff member, one controller, one accounting clerk,three bridge tenders, and one office manager.
The new railroad will roster up to 20 locomotives, mostly GP38s and GP40s,that will wear a red, white, and blue paint scheme, according to a personfamiliar with the matter.
The route once hosted Amtrak’s Sunset Limited, which ran betweenOrlando and Los Angeles. It was cut back to a New Orleans-Los Angelesrouting after Hurricane Katrina damaged Gulf Coast trackage east of NewOrleans in 2005.
The line, which carries a pair of through trains to perform local work, ismaintained to Class 4 track standards with maximum speeds of 60 mph forfreight trains. CSX has rerouted most through traffic off the Panhandle lineto its parallel route via Waycross, Ga., and Montgomery, Ala.
Florida Gulf & Atlantic will be the second acquisition for RailUSA, a newcompany headed by Gary Marino, who founded shortline holdingcompanies RailAmerica and Patriot Rail. RailUSA is a subsidiary ofInternational Rail Partners. Both companies are based in Boca Raton, Fla.
RailUSA operates the Grenada Railroad, the 180-mile former Illinois CentralGrenada Subdivision between Jackson, Miss., and Memphis. RailUSAacquired the operating rights on the route from Iowa Pacific Holdings inAugust.
The sale of the Jacksonville-Tallahassee route is CSX’s largest to date sinceit began a line rationalization program under former CEO E. HunterHarrison.
CSX has been reviewing up to 8,000 miles of lines as it looks to shedlow-density and redundant routes that are no longer considered core partsof the network. Management does not expect that many miles of track toultimately go on the block.
The Florida Panhandle route was put up for sale in January.
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REPORTS THIRD-QUARTER 2018 RESULTS
NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 24, 2018, NS News –Norfolk Southern Corporation today reportedrecord third-quarter financial results.
Net income was $702 million, up 39 percentyear-over-year, a result of a 14 percent increase
in income from railway operations and a lower effective income tax rate.Diluted earnings per share were $2.52, up 44 percent year-over-year and athird-quarter record.
“Norfolk Southern continues to deliver record financial results that reflectour careful and determined pursuit of a balanced and flexible strategy,” saidJames A. Squires, Norfolk Southern chairman, president and CEO. “Ourdemonstrated progress toward the goals of our strategic plan is significant,and our ongoing pursuit of new initiatives to benefit customers and
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shareholders will further strengthen our organization.”
Third-quarter summary
• Railway operating revenues of $2.9 billion increased 10 percent comparedwith third-quarter 2017, due to higher volumes and an increase in revenueper unit, including higher fuel surcharge revenue as well as increased rates.Overall volumes were up 5 percent reflecting growth in the majorcommodity categories of intermodal and merchandise, which offset adecline in coal.
• Railway operating expenses increased $152 million, or 9 percent, to $1.9billion compared with the same period last year, driven by higher fuelprices, increases in volume-related expenses, and increased costsassociated with overall lower network velocity.
• Income from railway operations was $1.0 billion, a 14 percent increaseyear-over-year, and a third-quarter record. The railway operating ratio, oroperating expenses as a percentage of revenues, was 65.4 percent, also athird-quarter record.
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO ADOPT PRECISION SCHEDULEDRAILROADING OPERATING PRINCIPLES
NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 24, 2018, Trains News Wire - Norfolk Southern willadopt Precision Scheduled Railroading principles as it develops a newoperating plan that aims to produce better service at lower cost.
The decision, announced today, comes a month after Union Pacific said it,too, would implement an operating plan based on the philosophy of the lateE. Hunter Harrison, who used Precision Scheduled Railroading to transformCanadian National, Canadian Pacific, and CSX Transportation.
And, like UP, Norfolk Southern says it will depart from the Harrisonapproach by rolling out the changes gradually, with minimal disruption, andby working in collaboration with customers.
“We will implement PSR principles where they can allow us to better servecustomers and shareholders,” CEO Jim Squires said on the railroad’searnings call on Wednesday.
“We will endeavor to implement a new operating plan while minimizingservice disruption,” Squires says. “And we’re not going to sit out growthwhile we do so. This remains an environment very conducive to growth andwe are determined to capitalize on it.”
Squires was asked if this meant NS was not fully embracing PrecisionScheduled Railroading.
“We’re looking at everything out there, including elements of PSR, that arecomplementary to our strategy,” Squires says, noting that the railroad willblend its own ideas with best practices from other railroads as well aselements of Precision Scheduled Railroading.
Squires declined to say whether NS has any targets in mind for layoffs,reductions in the size of its locomotive and car fleets, or whether it wouldstreamline its network of classification yards.
“But suffice it to say that our goal is to produce a railroad that provides amore consistent service product at a lower cost,” Squires says.
NS expects to see productivity improvements as it reduces the number ofcars online and runs a higher-velocity railroad. And Squires says NS willcontinue its D.C.-to-A.C. locomotive conversion program as well as buy newlocomotives as required.
NS will release full details about its new operating plan during an investorday scheduled for Feb. 11 in Atlanta.
Chief Operating Officer Mike Wheeler says NS for several months has beentaking a “clean sheet” approach to operations at local yards and terminals.The goal of the process, he says, is to increase car velocity and reduce thenumber of cars online.
NS is creating more blocks of traffic in local yards, which allows the cars tobypass major classification yards, Wheeler says. NS is working withcustomers and short lines on improving blocking, as well.
To date, the clean sheeting approach to first- and last-mile service hasreduced re-handling of cars by 80 percent, improved train performance tothe mid 90-percent range from the low 80-percent range, and decreasedterminal dwell by up to 4 hours.
The new operating plan will be built from the local level up to the networklevel, Wheeler says.
The overall plan will include blending unit-train traffic into the merchandisenetwork. By pushing more volume into the merchandise network, NS will beable to operate longer trains on a daily basis, up from several days per weekcurrently.
NS also will encourage faster loading and unloading of freight cars byincreasing demurrage charges, something Harrison-led railroads have donewith success.
NS has brought in people with Precision Scheduled Railroading experienceand will continue to do so.
“We don’t have a monopoly on good ideas,” Squires says.
Harrison’s operating model is sweeping the industry.
After delivering record second-quarter results this summer, both UP and NSexecutives found themselves facing Wall Street analyst questions aboutwhy they couldn’t move as far and as fast as CSX.
Harrison took the helm in Jacksonville in March 2017 and rapidly rolled outoperational changes prior to his death in December 2017. The changes wereaccompanied by a summer and fall of service problems last year. Servicehas recovered and CSX is now dramatically more profitable, with anoperating ratio that is among the industry leaders and will likely be below60 percent this year.
Kansas City Southern executives said they would adopt some elements ofPrecision Scheduled Railroading as UP — a major interchange partner forMexico traffic — changes its operations.
NORFOLK SOUTHERN: PSR WILL HELP CLOSE OPERATING-RATIOGAP WITH CSX
NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2018, Trains News Wire - Norfolk Southern isapproaching Precision Scheduled Railroading differently than CSXTransportation, with a much slower timetable and no appetite for disruptivechange.
But NS sees no reason why it can’t close productivity and operating ratiogaps with its more efficient eastern rival, Chief Financial Officer CynthiaEarhart says. Earhart spoke at the Stephens Fall Investment Conference inNew York.
“The biggest difference for us is we’re really trying to communicate veryclosely with our customers so that they understand what the changes aregoing to be and give them time to plan,” Earhart told an investor conferenceon Wednesday.
NS is currently laying the groundwork for a new operating plan that willincorporate elements of the late E. Hunter Harrison’s Precision ScheduledRailroading operating model.
The railroad is using a process called “clean sheeting” to redesign localservice at its local serving yards and terminals. The goal is to improveservice and terminal fluidity while making better use of locomotives, cars,and crews, Earhart says.
Once clean sheeting is complete next year, NS will turn its focus to a newsystemwide service plan for its road trains. Changes will be rolled outgradually to minimize the potential for service problems.
“It’s a lot of change,” Earhart says. “There’s going to be a lot of change tothe way that we run the railroad and there will be a lot of change for ourcustomers.”
Harrison rapidly made sweeping operational changes at CN, CP, and CSX,which led to months of service problems, shipper complaints, andincreased scrutiny from federal regulators.
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The Surface Transportation Board is holding weekly conference calls withUnion Pacific executives, who on Oct. 1 began implementing a newoperating plan based on the principles of Precision Scheduled Railroading.
Federal regulators have not yet made a similar request to NS, which hassaid it will provide additional details on its operating plan and financialtargets during an investor day scheduled for February.
Under Harrison and his successor, CEO Jim Foote, CSX’s operating ratiohas improved by more than 10 points and stood at a record 58.7 percent inthe third quarter.
Norfolk Southern’s operating ratio was a record in the third quarter, as well,but was 65.4 percent, or 6.7 points higher than CSX’s.
NS on Wednesday named Michael Farrell, who has experience withPrecision Scheduled Railroading at both Canadian National and CanadianPacific, as senior vice president of transportation.
As a consultant, Farrell has led the NS clean sheeting effort over the pastyear.
Prior to joining Norfolk Southern, Farrell served as general manageroperations and mechanical of the Prairie and U.S. West divisions ofCanadian Pacific, as well as general manager for the U.S. networkoperations center in Minneapolis. Previously, he served as generalsuperintendent-Chicago Terminal of Canadian National and generalsuperintendent terminals for CN.
VOTE CLINCHES DEAL FOR NORFOLK SOUTHERN HEADQUARTERSMOVE TO ATLANTA
Nov.12, 2018, Railway Age - Norfolk Southern plans to build a $575 millionheadquarters complex in downtown Atlanta, after the city approved a $600million bond offer to lure the Class I from its current base in Virginia.
The bond issue by Invest Atlanta included the Georgia Department ofEconomic Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia Power, andclears the way for redevelopment of NS-owned property in Atlanta’s Gulchneighborhood.
Norfolk Southern plans to construct the new 750,000-square footheadquarters at 3rd Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue on Midtown’s busyWest Peachtree Street, about a mile from its current office.
The headquarters move from Norfolk to Atlanta had long been reported; NShas been in the process of relocating its operations team to Atlanta, whichwas the operational home of predecessor Southern Railway. NS also has anautomation lab in Atlanta allied with Georgia Tech.
The move would create 850 new jobs while retaining 2,000 existingpositions.
Norfolk Southern was ready to scrap the deal until the Atlanta City Councilvoted Nov. 5 to approve the lease purchase bond NS said it required to sellits Gulch property.
The railroad sees Atlanta as a better base of operations, observers say, witha major international airport, expansive suburbs, and a large talent pool.
The company plans to close on the property early in 2019.
NORFOLK SOUTHERN SD70ACC LEADS TRAIN INTO CHICAGO FORFIRST TIME
CHICAGO, Nov. 12, 2018, Trains NewsWire - Norfolk Southern train 27Karrived in Chicago on Nov. 8 withrebuilt SD70ACC No. 1800 leading. Itwas released for service last week fromthe company's Altoona, Pa., shops.
The locomotive was rebuilt from NSSD70 No. 2537, which was built in 1994 with a standard cab and directcurrent traction motors. Progress Rail rebuilt the locomotive withenhancements including a new comfort cab and alternating current traction,while Norfolk Southern painted and performed final testing before release.
This is the first of 50 such units Progress will rebuild for Norfolk Southern.The railroad used yellow paint to represent Progress Rail's parent company,Caterpillar, on the first two SD70ACCs rebuilt.
COURT DERAILS READING &NORTHERN’S CHALLENGE OF SHORT
LINE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Oct. 29, 2018, Railway Age - The Reading &Northern Railroad plans to appeal a ruling
dismissing its challenge to bid on short line operating rights in centralPennsylvania.
The SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) on Oct. 17 was granted asummary judgment by Judge Charles Saylor of the Northumberland CountyCourt of Common Pleas in Reading’s challenge to a Request For Proposals(RFP) process for a new operating agreement on its lines.
“We are disappointed but not surprised by the Court’s decision, whichignores all of our arguments and evidence,” said R&N President WayneMichel, in a statement. “The Court has consistently ruled in favor of thelocal rail authority and it has been clear since the beginning of the case thatwe would need to seek relief at the appellate level.”
The decision is separate from a legal fight being waged over JRA operatingrights by current operator North Shore Railroad and Carload Express, basedin Pittsburgh.
Reading & Northern, headquartered in Port Clinton, Pa., challenged the firstphase of the RFP, which was issued by the JRA in 2014 seeking operatorsfor its 200 miles of rail lines in eight counties.
Among other grounds, R&N claimed the RFP process was formulated toeliminate it from consideration.
But the court found that R&N’s claims didn’t hold up, according to a report,that it failed to provide required information as part of its RFP submission,as well as sufficient evidence that it was treated unfairly in the RFP processto warrant a trial. At the same time, R&N’s overall goal throughout theprocess was to force JRA to privatize the rail lines, the company’srepresentatives testified.
“[We] look forward to having [our] day in court as to the JRA’s illegalcompetition with private industry and to showcase to the appellate courtwhat the trail judge chose to ignore: the overwhelming evidence of bias andcorruption that infected the entire process,” R&N stated.
READING & NORTHERN ACQUIRES PENN FOSTER WAREHOUSE
PORT CLINTON, PA., Nov. 7, 2018, Rail Group News - The Reading &Northern Railroad, through its sister company, Reading Railroad Transfer,LLC, acquired the former Penn Foster warehouse facility located inRansom, Pa.
The paper-grade warehouse spans 83,551 square feet and is set to serve asa new transload facility for wood pulp with the potential to transload otherforest products, officials said.
The warehouse is located on more than 30 acres of land next to Reading &Northern’s Susquehanna Branch, which is served daily.
This warehouse adds to the Reading & Northern Railroad’s transloadingnetwork, which includes two transload facilities and an additionalwarehouse.
“This acquisition marks an important milestone for our railroad. We havealways made investments in freight cars and service improvements, but thisbeautiful warehouse marks a continuation of our investment intransloading, warehousing and trucking,” said Andy Muller, Jr., Reading &Northern’s CEO and owner. “Reading & Northern will continue to work toprovide our customers with the best possible service package.”
Reading & Northern’s corporate headquarters is located in Port Clinton,Pennsylvania. The privately-held railroad company serves more than 70customers in nine eastern Pennsylvania counties. Officials said it hasexpanded its operations throughout the past three decades and now
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handles more than 30,000 carloads of freight and 120,000 excursion trainriders throughout 340 miles of track.
Reading and Northern operates both freight services and steam anddiesel-powered excursion passenger services, owns almost 1,300 freightcars, and employs more than 200 dedicated employees. Reading &Northernhas repeatedly been honored as one of the premier railroads in the nation.The acquisition was announced on Oct. 31, 2018.
FINAL MAJOR CIVIL CONSTRUCTIONCONTRACT FOR THE LONG ISLAND
RAIL ROAD EAST SIDE ACCESSPROJECT AWARDED TO SKANSKA
Nov. 1, 2018, Railway Age - The New York Metropolitan TransportationAuthority (MTA) on Oct. 31 awarded its final major civil constructioncontract for the Long Island Rail Road East Side Access (ESA) project toSkanska USA Civil Northeast. The contract, valued at $60.2 million, includestwo options that, if exercised, would bring the total value to $62.5 million.It’s among the final work needed to begin Long Island Rail Road service toGrand Central Terminal by year-end 2022.
The contract, known as CH058A Tunnel B/C Approach Structure, involvesrelocating tracks at Harold Interlocking in Sunnyside, Queens, to createspace for an 800-foot structure that will connect trains traveling to and fromLong Island with newly built tunnels to the new concourse under GrandCentral, and then excavating 15,000 cubic yards of soil to build thatstructure. It also includes removal of a tunnel boring machine cutter headthat remains in the tunnel from a prior contract, installation of overheadcatenary that powers Amtrak and NJ Transit trains, and newcommunications, power and signal duct banks, tracks and switches.
The work is expected to take 27 months.
The contractor is required to design and provide temporary support for the39th Street Bridge while the excavation and construction is under waybelow.
Skanska USA Civil Northeast, one of the five qualified bidders for thiscontract, submitted the lowest bid for the work. The formal Notice of Awardallows the contractor to begin early planning, surveying and administrativework. A Notice to Proceed, which gives the contractor full authority tocommence the work, will be issued in the coming months, dependent on thecompletion of crucial prerequisite work in the area.
“Awarding the last heavy civil contract shows our progress towardcompletion of this huge—and hugely important—project,” said MTA ChiefDevelopment Officer Janno Lieber. “East Side Access will pay off in manyways for Long Island and the region, including more trains, direct serviceto East Midtown, and a second passenger rail route between Manhattan andLong Island, the kind of back-up needed in the event of SuperstormSandy-type extreme weather events and other emergencies. It’s a gamechanger.”
“The award of this final contract means that we have come even closer tobringing this project in on time and initiating LIRR train service to GrandCentral by December 2022,” said ESA Senior Program Executive Rob Troup.
AMTRAK DEMANDS DELAYING METRO-NORTH PROJECT, OFFICIAL SAYS
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2018, Trains NewsWire - A Metropolitan Transit Authority official says Amtrak demands havestalled a project that would give Metro-North commuters access toManhattan’s West Side for the first time.
In an interview with the Rockland-Westchester Journal News, Janno Lieber,MTA’s chief development officer says negotiations between Amtrak and theMTA have broken down, delaying the start of bidding for designs of thePenn Station Access Project by at least six months.
The $1 billion MTA plan, which would follow completion of the long-delayedEast Side Access project to bring Long Island Rail Road trains to GrandCentral Terminal, would allow some Metro-North New Haven Line trains toreach Penn Station via a new connection. It would also see four newstations built in the Bronx.
Amtrak, which owns much of the property on which the new line would bebuilt, wants to collect access fees for the use of the Hell Gate Bridge, Liebertold the paper, and wants the MTA to pay much of the cost to replace a111-year-old, Amtrak-owned bridge in the Bronx. Lieber has said that couldcost $400 to $600 million.
Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said in a statement that the passengerrailroad has been cooperating with the MTA efforts, but wants “to ensurethat the proposed expansion of Metro-North service does not adverselyimpact Amtrak intercity passenger operation, which will see a significantexpansion in 2021 with the introduction of expanded Acela service betweenNew York and Boston.”
AFTER LOSSES, KAWASAKI MULLSFUTURE OF RAILCAR BUSINESS
Nov. 7, 2018, Railway Age - KawasakiHeavy Industries, builder of subway cars
for U.S. cities including New York and Washington, may exit the businessamid mounting losses and an increasingly difficult market.
Kawasaki Chief Executive Yoshinori Kanehana, after announcingdisappointing quarterly results, said the Japanese company is reviewingoptions for its rolling stock division, including getting out of the business,according to published reports.
The builder would explore alliances or possibly closing its rail unit if aturnaround isn’t successful.
Kawasaki plans to outline a restructuring for the rail business this fiscalyear after announcing a net loss of $31 million for the six months endedSeptember, down from a profit of $95 million a year ago. That included areported loss of $78 million in its rolling stock division, primarily oncontracts with Washington’s Metro and the Metropolitan TransportationAuthority’s Long Island Rail Road.
The company operates Kawasaki Rail Car at U.S. facilities in Lincoln, Neb.,and Yonkers, N.Y.
Kanehana also said that a labor shortage and Buy American requirementscomplicated the company’s business plans in North America.
Following early design issues and delivery delays, Metro inspections earlierthis year found flaws that will require replacement of all wiring in 548 ofabout 600 new 7000 series cars. The agency has a $2-billion contract withKawasaki for a total 748 cars, all of which it expects to be delivered aheadof schedule by late 2019.
Profits were also dragged by additional orders in a 2013 contract with LIRRthat were less than expected.
ACCELERATED LOCOMOTIVEENGINEER TRAINING KICKS OFF AT NJ
TRANSIT
NEWARK, NJ, Oct. 23, 2018, Railway Track & Structures - New JerseyTransit launched the agency’s new accelerated Locomotive Engineer
Lancaster Dispatcher December 2018Page 8
Training class last week, with 14 assistant conductors learning how tobecome rail engineers, officials said.
NJ Transit said the new class is intended to fulfill the agency’s commitmentto speed up the training of locomotive engineers.
The accelerated training program consists of 14 assistant conductors whoare already rules-qualified, cutting down the participants’ training time from20 months to 12 months.
“This accelerated class is part of our commitment to explore new ways toget engineers trained and qualified to operate our trains without reducingour rigorous standards of excellence ’’ said NJ Transit Executive DirectorKevin Corbett. “This new class contains NJ TRANSIT Assistant Conductors,who are already familiar with complex rail rules and regulations, andleverages that railroad experience to dramatically reduce their trainingperiod. This will help alleviate some of our engineer shortage issues andwill get more personnel in position to operate the trains on a more reliableschedule.”
The training is being conducted at the Rail Operations Center in Kearny,N.J., officials said. Corbett, other senior managers and training staff werealso present to welcome the new trainees.
Timetable 12-18FOR LANCASTER CHAPTER NEWS,
SEE “INSIDE THE BACK PAGE”
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SANTA AND CHRISTMAS
TRAINS
Allentown & Auburn - 570-778-7531 - www.allnrr.com
Cape May Seashore Lines - www.capemayseashorelines.org
Colebrookdale Railroad - 866-289-4021 - www.colebrookdalerailroad.com
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway - 570-325-8485 - www.lgsry.com
Middletown & Hummelstown - 717-944-4435 - www.mhrailroad.com
New Hope & Ivyland Railroad - 215-862-2332 - www.newhoperailroad.com
Reading & Northern - 610-562-2102 - www.rbmnrr-passenger.com
Railway Restoration Project 113 - 570-544-8300 - www.rrproject113.org
Steam Into History - 717-942-2370 - www.steamintohistory.com
Steamtown National Historic Site - 570-340-5204 - www.nps.gov/stea
Stewartstown - 717-746-8123 - www.stewartstownrailroadcompany.com
Strasburg Rail Road - 1-866-725-9666 - www.strasburgrailroad.com
West Chester Railroad - 610-430-2233 - www.westchesterrr.com
Wilmington & Western Railroad - 302-998-1930 - www.wwrr.com
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Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30, 2018; Jan. 5-6, 2019
Columbia Historic Preservation Society HO Model RR Open House,21 N. 2ndSt., Columbia, PA 17512. Info: www.tonysegro.com/cola
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 1-2, 2018
25th Annual Ocean City Train Show at the Ocean City Music Pier, 825Moorlyn Terrace, Ocean City, NJ 08226. Info: www.oceancityvacation.com
Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 1-2, 2018
Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Timonium, MD 21093. Info: www.trainshow.com
Saturday, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2018 - Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018
Garden Spot Village Christmas Train Room Open House, 433 S. Kinzer Ave.,New Holland, PA 17557. Info: www.gsvtrainclub.org or 717-355-6000
Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018
Philadelphia Chapter, PRRT&HS Meeting at the Drexel Hill MethodistChurch, 600 Burmont Rd., Drexel Hill, PA 19026. Info: www.philaprrths.com
Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 8-9, 2018
Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center, 80Rocherty Rd., Lebanon, PA 17042 Info: www.trainshow.com
Saturday & Sunday, Jan. 12-13, 2019
World’s Greatest Hobby On Tour at the Greater Philadelphia ExpoCenter,100 Station Ave., Oaks, PA 19456 Info: www.trainshow.com
Saturday & Sunday, Jan. 19-20, 2019
Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show at the York Expo Center, 334 CarlisleAve.,York, PA 17404 Info: www.trainshow.com
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019
Philadelphia Chapter, PRRT&HS Meeting at the Drexel Hill MethodistChurch, 600 Burmont Rd., Drexel Hill, PA 19026. Info: www.philaprrths.com
Saturday & Sunday, Feb. 16-17, 2019
Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show at the Chase Center on the Riverfront,815 Justison St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Info: www.trainshow.com
Saturday, Mar. 2, 2019
Thirty Third Annual Harrisburg Railroad Show & Collectors Marketsponsored by the Harrisburg Chapter, NRHS at the I. W. Abel Union Hall(Steelworkers Union), 200 Gibson St., Steelton, PA 17113. Info: Mark Irvin,3814 Leyland Dr., Mechanicsburg, PA 17050. Phone: 717-732-3867 [email protected]. Donation at the door - $5.00, under 12, free.
Saturday & Sunday, Mar. 2-3, 2019
Roundhouse Model Train Show at the B&O Railroad Museum, Pratt Street,Baltimore, MD. Info: www.trainshow.com
Thursday-Saturday, Mar. 21-23, 2019
2019 NRHS Spring Conference in Birmingham, AL. Info: www.nrhs.com
Saturday, Mar. 30, 2019
Philadelphia Chapter, PRRT&HS Meeting at the Drexel Hill MethodistChurch, 600 Burmont Rd., Drexel Hill, PA 19026. Info: www.philaprrths.com
Tuesday-Saturday, May 7-11, 2019
2019 NRHS Convention in Salt Lake City, UT. Info: www.nrhs.com
300 GAP ROAD, ROUTE 741 EAST
STRASBURG, PA
WWW.RRMUSEUMPA.ORG
717-687-8628
Saturday, Dec. 1 & 8, 2018 - Christmas With The Conductor Parties
Saturday, Dec. 1 & 8, 2018 - Home For The Holidays
Saturday. April 6, 2019 - Rails & Ales
STRASBURG RAIL ROAD
301 GAP ROAD, RONKS, PA 17572
WWW.STRASBURGRAILROAD.COM
1-866-725-9666
Thursday-Friday, Nov. 30 - Dec. 21, 2018 - Christmas Feast
Friday, Nov. 30 - Monday, Dec. 24, 2018 - Christmas Trains
Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 - Christmas Tree Train
Lancaster Dispatcher December 2018Page 9
RESTORED B&O PARLOR CAR DEBUTS ON THE STRASBURG RAIL ROAD
STRASBURG, Pa., Nov. 9, 2018, Trains News Wire - The Strasburg Rail Roadhas debuted its newest restoration project, a 12-wheel former Baltimore &Ohio parlor car, after more than two years of restoration work. The car,featuring 24 parlor chairs, is expected to see service on the line's holidayseason trains in late November and December.
Named Linn W. Moedinger for the railroad's retiring CEO, Strasburg car No.118 was originally built by American Car and Foundry in 1911 for the B&O.Although the original number has never been determined, evidenceuncovered by the railroad's restoration workers led them to believe theoriginal number may have been 4281.
It later cascaded down in retirement to work train service as X-4111. The carwas acquired by the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern steam excursion linefor $300 in June 1966 and then used as a museum exhibit car namedSomerset for the B&O yard it was rescued from in Somerset, Pa. It servedover the years as a museum car and then a circus diorama display car, butwas later used as storage for company items.
The car was acquired by the Strasburg in June 1990 in unrestored, guttedcondition in trade for C&O insulated box car 5504, formerly used by theowners of Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson 4-8-4 No. 2839 and outfitted withshelving, to be used by the Wanamaker for storage and photo freights.Strasburg immediately “cocooned” the B&O car in bright red metal sidingwith rubber roof, air gaps, and grated air vents, and it sat in the Strasburg'sstorage lines for fifteen years until restoration began in mid-2015.
Restoration included complete removal and replacement in kind of thedeteriorated side frames, replication of stained-glass clerestory windows,rebuilding of the sills and ends, and a new interior with brass light fixtures.In all, the railroad has invested more than 20,000 man-hours and $700,000in the restoration.
NOVEMBER, 2018
CHAPTER MEETING MINUTES
There are no Chapter Membership Meeting Minutes to report. The AnnualChapter Banquet superseded the Regular Chapter Membership Meeting.
LESS THAN CARLOAD SHIPMENTS
LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWS
FRA ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF $272MILLION FOR ‘STATE OF GOOD REPAIR’ RAIL
PROJECTS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2018, FRA Press Release –The U.S. Department of Transportation’s FederalRailroad Administration (FRA) issued a Notice ofFunding Opportunity (NOFO) today for theFederal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair
Program (Partnership Program). The NOFO makes more than $272 millionin grant funding available.
“It is important for rail infrastructure owners and operators to plan for themaintenance and replacement of their assets,” said FRA AdministratorRonald L. Batory. “The Department particularly recognizes the opportunityto reduce risk and enhance safety through this grant program.”
This $272,250,000 NOFO will assist in funding capital projects to repair,replace, or rehabilitate publicly-owned railroad assets, and to improveintercity passenger rail performance. Eligible projects include those that
replace existing assets in-kind; replace existing assets with those thatincrease capacity or provide a higher level of service; and those that ensureexisting assets maintain service while being brought into a state of goodrepair.
Applications for capital projects funding under this solicitation must besubmitted via www.Grants.gov and are due no later than 5:00 p.m. EST onMonday, March 18, 2019. Prior to the application deadline, FRA plans toprovide Web-based training and technical assistance to answer questionsfrom applicants.
Federal funds awarded under this NOFO must not exceed 80 percent of thetotal cost of a project. The required 20 percent non-Federal share may becomposed of public sector or private sector funding, or both.
In addition, selection preference will be given to projects where Amtrak isnot the sole applicant; multiple applicants submit applications jointly; theproposed federal share of total project costs does not exceed 50 percent;non-federal shares consist of funding from multiple sources, includingprivate sources; and applications indicate strong project readiness.
The Department will also consider how well the project aligns with keyDepartmental priorities, including supporting economic vitality, leveragingfederal funding, using innovative approaches to improve safety andexpedite project delivery, and holding grant recipients accountable forachieving specific and measurable outcomes.
ON VIA's 40th ANNIVERSARY, ‘CANADIAN’STILL SHINES
SIOUX LOOKOUT, Ont, Oct. 29, 2018, TrainsNews Wire - The official beginning of VIA RailCanada’s takeover of passenger service came
40 years ago today, on Oct. 29, 1978, with the departure of the formerCanadian National Super Continental from Montreal to Vancouver, BritishColumbia.
Since then, the company — which also took control of former CanadianPacific passenger service — has been buffeted by shifting political windsin a country that, like the U.S., lacks a defined passenger rail policy withconsistent funding.
VIA’s major investment in Bombardier’s “Light, Rapid, and Comfortable”(LRC) fleet of the early 1980s is still paying dividends, with a far morerobust service between Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City than itspredecessors ever offered. And the company is finally seeking replacementof the rapidly deteriorating LRCs.
Despite the limits to its support, VIA management continues to providegradually diminishing mobility to the nation’s far-flung communities. It doesso using legacy equipment it was allowed to keep at its founding or laterpurchase second-hand and refurbish from Amtrak, which discarded oldercars with the arrival of Amfleet, Superliner, and Horizon equipment.
Nowhere is VIA’s resourcefulness — and its shortcomings — more ondisplay than on its transcontinental Canadian. Except where tracks toMontreal from Capreol, Ontario, have been torn up, today’s train follows thesame Toronto-Vancouver route of CN’s Super Continental, with passengercars built as early as 1954 by the Budd Co. for its Canadian Pacificnamesake.
That’s right: the cars are 24 years older than VIA! Even so, rigorousmaintenance and re-manufacturing of the domes, diners, coaches, andsleeping cars mean they seem as spotless and fresh as they must havelooked the day they were delivered. All upholstery, paint, and electricalsystems have been renewed a couple of times; steam heat pipes removed;retention toilets installed; and section no. 4 in each sleeper has beenreplaced by a shower; but the cars retain thoughtful design elements likebig windows that caused admiration in the 1950s and do so even today.
Sure, except for the stimulus-funded transformation of eight Chateausleeping cars and four Park dome observation lounges into pricey PrestigeClass, cruise-ship-worthy accommodations several years ago, the train may
Lancaster Dispatcher December 2018Page 10
not be “contemporary” (whatever that means). And VIA’s expedientdecision, in conjunction with CN track maintenance, to reduce theCanadian’s frequency across the prairies east of Edmonton, Alta., andnorthern Ontario forests to twice per week next summer clearly hurts itsrelevance. But combined with a first-rate onboard staff, the train soldiers onas a one-of-a-kind tribute to the company’s first 40 years.
THIS MONTH’S BANNER PHOTO
CSX Transportation No. 134 leads high priority Train Q136 east throughSt. Albans, W. Va., on January 23, 2016 - Chase Gunnoe photo.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYOPEN HOUSE WEEKEND
CHRISTIANA FREIGHT STATION
DECEMBER 8-9, 2018
LANCASTER CHAPTER, N.R.H.S., WILL HAVE A SALESTABLE FOR THE OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND
DAILY SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 - 3:00 PM TO 8:00 PMFAMILY CHILDREN’S PARTY - 3:00 PM TO 5:00 PM
TRAIN DISPLAYS, VISIT FROM SANTA, CHILDREN’SACTIVITIES, FREE HOT DOGS AND DRINKS FOR CHILDREN
HAY RIDES STARTING AT 5:00 PM
LANCASTER CHAPTER, NRHS SALES TABLE - PURCHASE
LAST MINUTE GIFTS
POPCORN - HOT DOGS - SNACKS - DRINKS WILL BE
AVAILABLE
SEE CHRISTIANA BOROUGH’S ANNUAL “LIGHT UP
CHRISTMAS” CHRISTMAS LIGHTING CONTEST
HAY RIDES AROUND TOWN SPONSORED BY THE
CHRISTIANA LIONS CLUB
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 - 1:00 PM TO 5:00 PMFREIGHT STATION DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS - TRAIN
DISPLAYS - POPCORN - SNACKS - DRINKS WILL BE
AVAILABLE
LANCASTER CHAPTER, NRHS SALES TABLE - PURCHASE
LAST MINUTE GIFTS
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES A BIG SUCCESSThe Annual Vendor & Craft Show, held on October20, was a big success - the Chapter cleared$1,229.50. Donations totaled $1281.00 minus $51.50for advertising. You may not be aware that thisshow is a fundraiser for our Chapter. Thank you to
all who donated, helped, attended and supported our vendors. Your supportis sincerely appreciated.Also, thank you to Linda Himpsl for requesting and handling the door prizesfor the Banquet and thank you to Mark Hoffman for the Banquet program,"Looking Locally." We also thank everyone who helped make the Banqueta success.
CHAPTER SENIORITY LIST
Traditionally, railroads recognize an employee’syears of service milestones. The National RailwayHistorical Society also honors this tradition. At theAnnual Chapter Banquet on November 17, 2018,service pins were awarded to the following ChapterMembers, who have achieved a significantmembership milestone.
50 YEARS
Nelson B. Strubel
William H. Watson
25 YEARS
John P. Bennett
Doris K. Depew
Donetta M. Eberly
Congratulations and sincere thanks for your manyyears of loyal membership.
Lancaster Dispatcher December 2018Page 11
“INSIDE THE BACK PAGE”UPCOMING LANCASTER CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
DECEMBER 8, 2018 - SATURDAY, 3:00 PM - CHRISTIANA FRT. STA. - CHRISTIANA BORO CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Christiana Lions Club will have Santa for the area children and families. Everyone is invited. Saturday night Hay Rides to see theChristiana Christmas light displays - a fun-filled evening for the entire family!
DECEMBER 9, 2018 - SUNDAY, 1:00 PM - CHRISTIANA FREIGHT STATION - CHAPTER CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
Open House from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Enjoy the Station decorated for Christmas, popcorn, train layout and holiday displays.
DECEMBER 17, 2018 - MONDAY, 7:30 PM - CHRISTIANA FREIGHT STATION - CHAPTER CHRISTMAS PARTY
Please bring cookies, snacks or a covered dish to share. There’s no better way to get into the festive holiday spirit with food, fun andholiday merriment! We have the Santa Claus Seal of Approval!
JANUARY 6, 2019 - SUNDAY, 1:00 PM - CHRISTIANA FREIGHT STATION - CHAPTER CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
Open House from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. An Open House after the Christmas holiday for a more laid back, leisure day to visit the station.
JANUARY 21, 2019 - MONDAY, 7:30 PM - CHRISTIANA FREIGHT STATION - HOLIDAY STATION CLEAN-UP
Clean up the Station from the Christmas Open House and holiday festivities. No program or speaker - just mops and brooms!
FEBRUARY, 2019 - NO CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING THIS MONTH
MARCH 17, 2019- SUNDAY, 2:00 PM - CHRISTIANA FREIGHT STATION - CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Join us for the first Chapter Membership Meeting in 2019.
LANCASTER CHAPTER, INC.NATIONAL RAILWAYHISTORICAL SOCIETY10 RAILROAD AVENUE
CHRISTIANA, PA 17509-1416PHONE: 610-593-4968CHAPTER WEBSITE: WWW.NRHS1.ORG
THE LANCASTER DISPATCHER IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY AS THE
NEWSLETTER OF THE LANCASTER CHAPTER, NRHS AND IS E-MAILED TO
EACH MEMBER OF THE CHAPTER AS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF
MEMBERSHIP. ANNUAL LANCASTER CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE
$20; $22 FOR FAMILY MEMBERSHIP, PLUS $12 IF YOU DESIRE A
MAILED NEWSLETTER. NATIONAL NRHS DUES ARE MAILED
SEPARATELY. OPINIONS AND POINTS OF VIEW EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE
THOSE OF THE EDITOR, STAFF OR CONTRIBUTORS AND NOT NECESSARILY
THOSE OF THE MEMBERSHIP, OFFICERS, OR THE NRHS. THE DEADLINE
FOR ALL ITEMS SUBMITTED IS THE THIRD MONDAY OF THE PRECEDING
MONTH. ADDRESS CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO:HAROLD SHAAK, P.O. BOX 813, ADAMSTOWN, PA 19501-0813 OR
EMAIL: [email protected].
LANCASTER CHAPTER, N.R.H.S.
10 RAILROAD AVENUE
CHRISTIANA, PA 17509-1416
Forwarding and Address Correction Requested
FIRST CLASS MAIL
PLEASE DELIVER PROMPTLY
FIRSTCLASSMAIL
Lancaster Dispatcher Page 12 December 2018
LANCASTER CHAPTER BOARD of DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT: TOM SHENK 717-560-1186 [email protected]
1ST VICE PRESIDENT: HAROLD SHAAK 717-484-4020 [email protected]
2NDVICE PRESIDENT: GLENN KENDIG 610-593-6313 [email protected]
SECRETARY: DONETTA EBERLY 717-866-5514 [email protected]
TREASURER: RICHARD RUTLEDGE 717-741-0205 [email protected]
EDITOR: ED MAYOVER 302-834-3662 [email protected]
HISTORIAN: TOM MCMASTER 717-274-5325 [email protected]
1ST DIRECTOR: CINDY KENDIG 610-593-6313 [email protected]
2ND DIRECTOR: STEPHEN HIMPSL 717-285-4283 [email protected]
NATIONAL REP: TOM STECKLER 610-593-2594 [email protected]
CHAPLAIN: DAVID STAMBAUGH 717-292-1726 [email protected]
CHAPLAIN: CELL PHONE 717-683-3053
MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE
LANCASTER CHAPTER, INC., N.R.H.S.
ANNUAL CHAPTER CHRISTMAS PARTY
CHRISTIANA FREIGHT STATION
10 RAILROAD AVE., CHRISTIANA, PA.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2018 STARTING AT 7:30 PM
